Material application to fishing lures possessing temperature sensitive chromaticity vicissitude creating a color changing fishing lure or rubber bait

ABSTRACT

A process where materials are applied to a plastic fishing lure surface, producing a lure that possesses chromatic vicissitude as a result of water temperature fluctuations. A non-thermochromatic base layer of one or more colors is applied to the plastic fishing lure. This layer acts as the visual appearance of the fishing lure in the absence of temperature fluctuations. Clear extender is then used as an additive to the thermochromatic ink. This addition to the ink then allows the ink to be sprayed onto the surface of the lure. This ink-extender amalgam can be applied in multiple layers however the bottom layer must have the least amount of hue saturation. Each layer thereafter would increase in hue saturation. Multiple hue combinations can be utilized. Once the desired number of thermochromatic layers has been applied, an ultra-clear super high gloss lacquer finish is sprayed on to the exterior of all layers.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Patent Application No. 61/422,152, filed Dec. 11, 2010,entitled “Material Application to Fishing Lures Possessing TemperatureSensitive Chromaticity Vicissitude Creating a Color Changing FishingLure or Rubber Bait,” which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

SUMMARY

This invention relates to the unique process by which a thermochromaticink is applied the surface of a plastic fishing lure.

A process where materials are applied to a plastic fishing lure surfaceis performed, producing a lure that possesses chromatic vicissitude as aresult of water temperature fluctuations. A non-thermochromatic baselayer of one or more colors is applied to the plastic fishing lure. Thislayer acts as the visual appearance of the fishing lure in the absenceof temperature fluctuations. Clear extender is then used as an additiveto the thermochromatic ink. This addition to the ink then allows the inkto be sprayed onto the surface of the lure. This ink-extender amalgamcan be applied in multiple layers however the bottom layer must have theleast amount of hue saturation. Each layer thereafter would increase inhue saturation. Multiple hue combinations can be utilized. Once thedesired number of thermochromatic layers has been applied, anultra-clear super high gloss lacquer finish is sprayed on to theexterior of all layers.

The employment of thermochromatic inks to produce color changing effectshas been previously utilized on fishing lures. These previous useshowever, have employed the application to the entirety of the lure. Theresult of this previous application is blocks of color. As it iscommonly understood, fishing lures are designed with the purpose ofresembling and moving like the prey of a fish. As the prey of fish neverappears in nature as blocks of color, this is problematic for thefisherman who is attempting to employ lures that have the maximum degreeof authenticity.

This particular process however, enables application in a manner thatproduces a gradient effect in addition to the chromatic vicissitude;that is more like that seen in nature, ergo, more life-like.Thermochromatic inks cannot be sprayed onto to a surface without theaddition of a thinning agent due to its thick viscosity. It would standto reason then that a process that allows the ink to be sprayed on in agradient pattern, versus a solid, achieves a more accurately realisticfinish. This results in attaining the design objectives of a fishinglure with exactitude and realism. Aspects of the invention are directedtoward:

-   -   1. A plastic fishing lure having materials applied to it in such        a manner that result in temperature sensitive chromatic        vicissitude and design required exactitude and realism.    -   2. The fishing lure of aspect 1, wherein a base or ‘primer’        layer of non-thermochromatic coating is applied to the plastic        body of the fishing lure in preparation for the application and        bonding of a thermochromatic ink layer.    -   3. The thermochromatic ink of aspect 2 is mixed with a clear        extender resulting in an ink-extender amalgam.    -   4. The ink-extender amalgam of aspect 3 is then applied to the        fishing lure of claim 1 in a sprayed on gradient on top of the        bonding layer of claim 2. This layer enables thermochromatic        sensitivity to water temperature variations and provides the        optic achievement of fish prey realism.    -   5. The ink-extender amalgam of aspect 3 is applied in one or        more layers with the bottom layer being of least amount of hue        saturation and each additional layer increasing with hue        saturation. Each layer possessing a different temperature        sensitivity.    -   6. Upon completion of the layers of aspect 5, the fishing lure        of claim 1 has a final layer of ultra clear super high gloss        lacquer finish sprayed upon it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary fishing lure in accordance with anaspect of the invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of a surface of the fishing lurecoated with one base layer of non-thermochromatic ink and multiplelayers of thermochromatic ink of different colors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an illustration of a standard fishing lure that will bespray coated with multiple layers of thermochromatic ink-extenderamalgam and a single base layer of non-thermochromatic coating. Althoughstandard fishing lures come in various sizes, shapes, and hardness, theywill be coated with similar gradient patterns and designs.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary fishing lure 10. The fishing lure 10 includesan upper body 1. The exemplary fishing lure includes eyes 20, mouthlines 30, gill lines 40, fins and scale markings and one or more hooks50.

The upper body 1 of the top portion 60 of the fishing lure 10 will becoated with a thermochromatic ink-extender amalgam in a gradientpattern. The gradient pattern will start solid and will fade in opacityas the coating traverses the body of the lure. The gradient effect willstop halfway to two-thirds of the way down the body of the lure. Thegradient effect on the lure will consist of multiple layers ofthermochromatic ink-extender amalgam and one non-thermochromatic layerof different colors. The layering of the gradient pattern will allow thelure to possess color changing properties in response to watertemperature changes.

Further details will be added to the standard lure such as the eyes 20,mouth lines 30, gill lines 40, fins and scale markings, etc., usingnon-thermochromatic ink for a more realistic effect. Using these detailson the lure 10, in addition to the color changing gradient effect, willallow the lure to resemble actual prey to predator fish.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of the surface of a standard fishinglure coated with one base layer of non-thermochromatic ink and multiplelayers of thermochromatic ink of different colors.

-   Label 3 shows a cross section of the bottom layer of the top portion    of a standard fishing lure. This layer will be coated with a layer    of non-thermochromatic ink and will be the base layer of the fishing    lure.-   Label 4 shows a layer of thermochromatic ink-extender amalgam on top    of the base layer 3 that will be transparent or solid depending on    the temperature of the water. If this ink-extender amalgam layer is    in the transparent state then it will expose the base    non-thermochromatic layer. If this layer is in the solid state then    it will cover the base non-thermochromatic layer.-   Label 5 shows a layer of thermochromatic ink-extender amalgam on top    of another ink-extender amalgam layer that will be transparent or    solid depending upon the temperature of the water. If this amalgam    layer is in the transparent state, then it will expose the    underlying amalgam layer. If this layer is in the solid state, then    it will cover the underlying amalgam layer. Each    thermochromatic-extender layer will react at a different temperature    than the previous or underlying thermochromatic-extender layer.

1. A plastic fishing lure having materials applied to it in such amanner that result in temperature sensitive chromatic vicissitude anddesign required exactitude and realism. 2-6. (canceled)